In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...
The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...
After a nation-wide vote among his peers, Julien Leparoux is the winner of the 2026 George Woolf Award, Santa Anita Park announced via press release. The George Woolf Award honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport. It has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950. As each year's winner is selected by a vote of fellow jockeys, it is one of the most cherished honors given to a rider. Entering Friday, Leparoux has won 3,066 races and tallied purse earnings...
After 25 years at the helm of Turfway Park, and 13 years as general manager, Chip Bach will retire from his duties with the Florence, Kentucky track effective Apr. 1, the venue announced Monday morning. Bach began his career at Turfway in 1999 as director of operations and human resources. In 2012, he was promoted to general manager of Turfway and later added oversight of Newport Racing & Gaming when it opened in 2020 during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As general manager, Bach helped oversee the track's transition...
Fulleffort (Liam's Map), a rallying second in both of the local preps, punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with a powerful win in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Favored at 9-5, the Leonatus S. and John Battaglia Memorial S. runner-up raced in ninth through fractions of :23.18 and :47.16. The gray began to wind up beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the far turn, came rolling up four wide approaching the quarter pole and kept on motoring down the stretch, finishing up in a field-best :12.99 to...
Volendam (Vekoma), a $600,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by John Stewart's Resolute Racing, kicked off his career with a good-looking debut win on Jeff Ruby Steaks day at Turfway Park. The 2-1 favorite challenged for early command from his inside draw, then eased back to fourth through an opening quarter in :22.10. Caught in some traffic approaching the quarter pole, he was guided into the clear by Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the top of the stretch and came charging home to win by two lengths over Mr. Vaggio (Caravaggio). The...
Golden Tempo (Curlin), third in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. Feb. 14, will race with first-time blinkers in Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was an eye-catching, come-from-behind winner of his first two career starts, including the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 17. He rallied from seventh to complete the trifecta in the Risen Star, finishing six lengths behind Paladin (Gun Runner). "He made a really nice run in the Risen Star and...
1st-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2f, 12:50p.m. Tracy Farmer's homebred TAP THIS WAY (Tapit) kicks off for Mark Casse, who also trained this filly's illustrious brother, Sir Winston (Awesome Again), winner of the 2019 GI Belmont Stakes for Farmer. While dam La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex) never managed a win on the turf, she did register her biggest won on the synthetic in the GIII Kentucky Cup Distaff. Chiefwood Stables also unveils Not This Time, an Ontario-bred daughter of Cool Shadows (Munnings). Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, the dark bay...
TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's pair of GI Kentucky Derby preps--the GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Results (Weekend of Feb. 28) - Commandment (Into Mischief) ($6.80 winner of GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth) and Class President (Uncle Mo) ($19.00 winner of GII Rebel) made it a profitable weekend at the windows for this column, both delivering wins in dramatic fashion. Hammond (Charlatan), meanwhile, was a disappointing sixth at 8-1 in the GIII Gotham. GII TwinSpires.com...
In the ongoing battle between HISA and Churchill Downs Inc., HISA fired the latest shot Tuesday, ordering Churchill to pay it $5,024,848.56, plus interest in the amount of $250,631.77. In documents released Tuesday by HISA, the authority charged that if CDI does not comply with the order it will no longer be able to simulcast races from any of its tracks to out-of-state locations starting Mar. 27. The legislation that created HISA allows it to revoke a tracks simulcasting privileges if HISA believes a track is in violation of its...
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Indigo Woods at Fair Grounds. Blue Is the Colour Larry Rodgers and Coast Racing's Indigo Woods (Blue Point) prevailed by a half-length and maintained her perfect record in the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 7 (video). A winner of a Churchill maiden in October, the Brendan Walsh trainee was bred by Tinnakill House. The 10th foal out...
A $350,000 bonus will be awarded to breeders of record for horses competing Friday, Mar. 27 at Turfway Park, in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky HBPA, the track announced Monday morning. Breeders will compete for $35,000 in bonuses across each of the 10 races that night. The winner of each race could earn up to $21,000 if the horse is a registered Kentucky-bred. Payments will be based on a purse-style distribution: 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3%...
As expected, Gulfstream's loaded Fountain of Youth card provides fast fillies--but topping this week's list is a breakout performance at Turfway Park. 5. WITH THE ANGELS, AQU, 3/1, Correction Stakes, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 93, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. (f, 4, by Omaha Beach--Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) O-Winning Move Stable, John Oxley, Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford Robbins. B-Joseph DeRico (NY). T-Linda Rice. J-Jose Lezcano. Rice says With the Angels "never makes a wrong move," and after demoralizing her New York-bred competition last summer and fall,...